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There are more fires to come on mismanaged moors

Robin Page

For several years friends in the Peak District, the Lake District and further afield have been warning me of the dangers of wildfires on mismanaged heather moors — moors with long, rank heather just waiting to “hot burn”.

On Saddleworth Moor last month, it was alleged that “bikers” deliberately set fire to heather after an altercation with gamekeepers worried by the conflict between motorbikes and nesting birds.

The facts, however, are simple: our managed grouse moors represent some of the most important areas for wildlife in Britain. I do not shoot — only rabbits in our vegetable garden — but a properly managed grouse/heather moor creates a mosaic of habitats with young heather, longer heather, patches of upland flora and areas deliberately dampened to create wet flushes…

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